Adjustable chair



Get. 21', 1924.,

S. C. EDDY ADJUSTABLE CHAI R Filed, Feb. 13 1922. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. fia/zz/y/ew 6. fob

S. C. EDDY ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Oct. a

Filed Feb. 13 1922 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 INVENTOR.

Jc/Iw k/ 6. [day A TTORNEYS Patented Get. 21, I924.

@NETEB STATES SCHUYLER C. EDDY, OE

sroncrs, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE onarn.

Application filed February 13, 1922. Serial No. 536,079.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SorroYLnR C EDDY, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Chairs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable chairs.

My improvements are especially designed by me and I have illustrated thesame as embodied in adjustable chairs of the Morrls type, although myimprovements are desirable and readily adapted for use in other types ofchairs or in very considerably modilied forms or embodiments. Y The mainobjects of the invention are: First, to provide an improved means whichadjus-tably and effectively supports the back in any positionthroughout'its range of adjustment.

Second, to provide in an adjustable chair an improved means foradjustably supporting the back which is very easily operated and isnoiseless in operation. I

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, Wllldefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out inthe claims.

A structure which ment of my invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a front perspective view of a chair embodying the features ofmy invention with the seat of the chair omitted in order to better showthe structural features.

' Fig II is a fragmentary inverted view.

Fig. III is a detail vertical section from front to rear on a linecorresponding to line 3-3 of Figs. I, II and TV, parts being shown infull lines for convenience in illustration.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail view par-.

tially in section on a line corresponding to line H of Figs. I, II andIII.

Fig. V is a top perspective view of the thrust plate of the clutch.

Fig. V I is a planview of one of the relatively fixed thrust members.Fig. VII is a plan view of one of the sliding thrust members.

is a preferred embo'dn, transversely thereof.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are" taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the main frame of a chair and 2the back which is hinged or adjustably connected to the' frame. Thedetails of this hinge connection.

are not illustrated as they form no part of this invention. The detailsof the frame are not illustrated as theylikewise form no part of. mypresent invention.

The frame is provided with a horizontally disposed bar 3 extending fromthe front to KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOROYAL EASY CHAIR CORPORATION, OF

rear thereof, the bar having longitudinal slots 4 and 5therein. The backis provided with a downwardly projecting arm 6 which extends through theslot 5 with its rear end below the bar. A pair of posts '7 are mountedon the bar. to project downwardly, these posts being arranged inspacedrelation and their lower ends being slotted.

On these posts I mount a plurality of friction clutch plates 8,preferably of fiber board or like fibrous material. These plates aresupported uponthe posts by the thrust plate 9 which is notched at 10 toengage the posts, thereby laterally supporting the plate. I provide aplurality of thrust plates 11 which are disposed, between the posts 7and interposed with the plates 8, being slidable These sliding platesare preferablyof metal, sheet metal stampings being satisfactory,

the] link having an upwardly projecting arm 13 laterally engaged withthe plates and engaged with the slot 4 of the bar 3 by which the link islaterally supported and guided.

A cotter pin 14 through the upper end of the link supports it inposition.

The springs 19 are connected tothe outer enduof; this lever to actuatethe same and through it" apply pressure to the clutch and are connectedby the link 12to the lower end of thearm 6,

I provide a pair of return springs 22 which i are connected to one ofthe sliding clutch plates at 23' and to .theunder side of the bar 3 at24.

. With .thisarrangement of parts I provide a mechanism which isveryeconomical in 7 its parts, effectively supports the back in anyadjusted position between itsextremes, is substantially silent ornoiseless in operation and may be very easily released to permit .themovementof the back.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribccer'tain adaptations or modifications which I con-template as Ibelieve the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art towhich my invention r lates to embody or adapt the same as maybe desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is; I 1

1. In a chair, the combination of a frame having 'a longitudinallyslottedbar disposed from front to rear thereof; a back hinged to saidframe and provided with an arm projecting below said bar, a pair ofspaced downwardly projectingslotted posts onsaid bar, a plurality ofrelatively fixed clutch plates loosely mounted on said posts,-;aplurality of-sliding clutch plates interposed'with said relatively fixedclutch plates, a link connecting the lower end of said arm to saidsliding clutch .pjlates, said link being provided with an upturned endloosely engaging-said sliding clutch plates and slid- .ablysupported insaid slot in said bar, a'

thrust plate disposed between and notched to engage said posts, a leverpivoted in the slot of one of said posts and engaged in the slot of theother, said thrust plate having a-central offset engaged byisaid lever,a clutch actuating spring connected to the outer endof said lever, and areleasing push rod connected at the outer end of said lever.

2. In a char, the combination of a frame having alongitudinally slottedbar disposed from front to rear thereof, a back'hinged to said frame andprovidedwlth an arm pro ecting below said bar, a pair of spaced posts onsaid bar, a plurality of relatively 'zred clutch plates loosely mountedon said posts, a'plurality of sliding clutch plates interposed with saidrelatively fixedclutch plates, a link connecting thelower end of saidarm to sa d SllCllllQ clutch plates, said link being prov1dedw1th anupturned end loosely engaging said sliding clutch plates rality ofrelatively fixed clutchplates loosely mounted on said posts, a pluralityof sliding clutch plates disposed between said posts and interposed withsaid relatively fixed clutch plates, operating connections for said backto said sliding clutch plates including a link loosely engaging saidplates, a' thrust plate disposed between and notched to ensaid posts, anactuating lever pivoted on one of said posts to engage said thrustplate, a clutchactuating, spring connected to'said lever, and areleasing means for said lever. v

4. In a chair, the combination of a frame, a back adjustably mounted onsaid frame, a pair of spaced posts on said frame, a plurality ofrelatively fixed clutch plates loosely mounted on said posts, apluralityof clutch plates slidable between said posts and disposed in alternatingrelation between said relatively fixed clutch plates to coact therewith,operating connections for said back to said slidableclutch plates, aclutch actuating means comprising athrust plate disposed between and noto n a Said 7 pressure to said clutch plates toincrease the friction,and means for releasing such pressure. 7

6. The combination in ,a chair comprising a frame and an adjustableback, of a plurality of friction clutch plates mounted on said frame, aplurality of sliding clutch'plates disposed in alternating :relationbetween said plates mounted on said frame and operatively connected tosaid back, means for applying pressure to said clutch plates including alever mounted to coac't with said plates, a spring for actuating saidlever, and

a push rod for releasing said lever against the tension of said spring.

7. The combination of a chair comprising a frame and an adjustable back,of a plurality of friction clutch plates mounted on said frame, aplurality of sliding clutch plates disposed in alternating relationbetween said friction plates mounted on said frame and operativelyconnected to said back, means for applying pressure to said thrustplates to increase the friction between them, and means for releasingsuch pressure to permit the movement of the sliding clutch plates. I

8. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, ofmeans for adjustably supporting said back comprising a clutch consistingof a plurality of relatively fixed clutch plates of fiber mounted onsaid frame, a plurality of sliding plates of metal disposed inalternating relation with said fiber lates andconnected to said back, aspring or applying pressure to said clutch plates, and a manuallycontrolled means for releasing said clutch.

9. In a chair, the combination with the frame and an adjustable back, ofmeans for adjustably supporting said back comprising 7 a clutchconsisting of a plurality of relatively fixed clutch plates mounted onsaid frame, a plurality of sliding clutch plates disposed in alternatingrelation with said fixed clutch plates, an operating connection for saidsliding clutch plates to said back comprising a link having a laterallyturnedend loosely engaging said sliding clutch plates, means forapplying pressure to said thrust plates to increase the friction betweenthem, and means for releasing such pressure to permit the movement ofthe sliding clutch plates.

10. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, ofmeans for adjustably supporting said back consisting of a set ofrelatively fixed clutch plates, a set of sliding plates interposed withsaid relatively fixed plates, one of said set of plates being of,.iibrous material and the other of metal, the relatively fixed platesbeing mounted on said frame and the sliding plates operatively connectedto said back, a clutch actuating lever, a clutch actuating springconnected to said lever for applying pressure to said clutch plates toincrease the friction, and a push rod connected to the outer endof saidlever. I

11. In a chair the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, ofmeans for adjustably supporting said back comprising a plurality ofrelatively fixed clutch plates of fiber mounted on said frame, a

plurality of coacting clutch plates of metal disposed in alternatingrelation between said fiber clutch plates and sliding movement andconnected to said back, means for applying pressure to said clutchplates to increase the friction, and manually operated means forreleasing such pressure.

In WltIlBSS whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

SGHUYLER c. EDDY. a s.]

